Something is amiss here.

[BeckyM]

Ok, so, I've had my tank heater running since about 8 p.m last night. According to the thermometer, it's about 75-77 in the tank right now, after being run for almost 24 hours. the other day, Gerty was sitting at prime 82 and ther heater had only been on about 7 hours. (I turn the heater off when I can't monitor things.)

So either:
A. My tank does NOT hold heat. At all. (if this is the case, I need a remedy for it.)
B. That thermometer sucks.
C. The heater was a waste of 30 bucks. (It's a Zoo-Med stick on tank heater.)

How do I figure out which issue is the problem (if it's not all of them.)

[lilblack94gt]

Undertank heaters usually only heat the glass. you may not have the right sized taank heater for your enclosure. and where did you mount the heater?

[BeckyM]

I have a five gallon tank so I got the 1-5 gallon heater. I attached it to the side of my tank, as the instructions suggested. They were pretty much screaming "DON'T MOUNT IT UNDERNEATH EVEN THOUGH ITS AN UNDERMOUNT HEATER! IT'LL SINGE YOUR CRITTERS!!!!"...:\ so...I didn't. Plus, my substrate is paper towels and I didn't want Gerty to burn.

She SEEMS comfortable, gray tree frogs have a pretty wide temperature range...but I was hoping to make her more comfortable.

[Rae]

75 is perfect for greys... you want it between 70 and 80 during the day and a little cooler at night. I wouldn't worry about the heater ... you get up near 90 it isn't going to be nice anymore. Mine sits between 74 and 76 dureing the day and they are happy active froggies perched up by the light while sleeping. All I use is Exo terra repti glo 2.0 bulbs

[KingCam]

There are a few things for you to consider here.

#1) Rae is correct, grey tree frogs do not require supplimental heat unless temperatures drop below like 67F.

#2) Who in the world told you your tree frog would get burned with a UTH on the bottom? A pacman frog owner? Grey tree frogs sit directly on the glass sides of the tanks. You are only putting them at more risk of burn by putting it on the side where they commonly hangout. The only time grey treefrogs really burrow is during brumation in the winter, in which case you certainly don't want to have a UTH turned on anyway.

#3) If I were going to give my grey tree frogs a UTH (and I wouldn't), I would put it on the underside of the tank where they are less likely to come into direct contact with it, with a 2 or 3 inch layer of damp coco fiber over it. If you're using only paper towels as substrate there is really no safe place for you to put a UTH on your tank. I would just remove it completely. Your treefrogs are well suited for room temperature conditions.

#4) Undertank heaters are just that, under tank. They work more efficiently when they are trapped between the bottom of the tank and a surface, because the heat can build up. Also, heat rises, so most of the heat is rising up through the glass into the tank when it's mounted on the bottom. When it's mounted on the side over half of the heat is just venting into the air on the outside of the tank, what's leftover makes it into the tank. If you have a burrowing frog like a toad, a pacman frog, or a pixie frog, then yes. You should mount the UTH on the side otherwise they will burrow through the insulation of their substrate and sit directly on the heated glass for days at a time until they die of heat exhaustion or burns, but this does not apply to treefrogs who are able to climb and sit directly on the sides of the tank.

[Rae]

I agree with everything Cam just posted 100% -hits rep button again- yay it let me lol

[BeckyM]

There are a few things for you to consider here.

#1) Rae is correct, grey tree frogs do not require supplimental heat unless temperatures drop below like 67F.

#2) Who in the world told you your tree frog would get burned with a UTH on the bottom? A pacman frog owner? Grey tree frogs sit directly on the glass sides of the tanks. You are only putting them at more risk of burn by putting it on the side where they commonly hangout. The only time grey treefrogs really burrow is during brumation in the winter, in which case you certainly don't want to have a UTH turned on anyway.

#3) If I were going to give my grey tree frogs a UTH (and I wouldn't), I would put it on the underside of the tank where they are less likely to come into direct contact with it, with a 2 or 3 inch layer of damp coco fiber over it. If you're using only paper towels as substrate there is really no safe place for you to put a UTH on your tank. I would just remove it completely. Your treefrogs are well suited for room temperature conditions.

#4) Undertank heaters are just that, under tank. They work more efficiently when they are trapped between the bottom of the tank and a surface, because the heat can build up. Also, heat rises, so most of the heat is rising up through the glass into the tank when it's mounted on the bottom. When it's mounted on the side over half of the heat is just venting into the air on the outside of the tank, what's leftover makes it into the tank. If you have a burrowing frog like a toad, a pacman frog, or a pixie frog, then yes. You should mount the UTH on the side otherwise they will burrow through the insulation of their substrate and sit directly on the heated glass for days at a time until they die of heat exhaustion or burns, but this does not apply to treefrogs who are able to climb and sit directly on the sides of the tank.

I didn't think they did, but another person on the site said that a bit warmer than my current room temperature (which runs anywhere from 72-77..see my "why u no poopie" thread for where I obtained this information.) would be better; my bedroom wasn't warm enough. Unless I completely misunderstood...that does happen sometimes...

Nope, not a pacman owner. The user manual of the UTH specifically said "mount on the side of the tank to prevent burns." I'm like "But this is an UNDER tank heater...what the fuddruckers?"

So....basically you're telling me that I blew 20 bucks and I've been wasting electricity for the past week? Greeeeeaaaaaaat. I should have went with my gut and saved my money. Stickyfeet lasted 7 years on sunshine and TLC. >_< I'll keep the tank heater around though. I might need it in the winter. My parents keep it in the 60's in the winter time.